Extensible rule and calipers.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

H. U. PRINDLE. EXTBNSIBLE RULE AND GALIPERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR'. 27. 1905.

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` H. U. PRINDLE.

EXTENSIBLE RULE AND GALIPERS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 27. 1805.

PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

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/NVENTH ATTORNEYS y,PA'IIII'IED FEB. 19, 1907. H. U. PRINDLE. 'EXTENSIBLE RULE AND GALIPBRS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.27.1905.

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/NVNTOR UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EXTENSIBLE RULE AND CALIPERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application Ried March 27, i905. semi N0. 252.187.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY URsoN PRIN- DLE, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Rules and Calipers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in eXtensible rules and it more particularly relates to the class of measuring instruments in which means are provided for accurately and quickly measuring linear distances.

Generically, my invention comprises a plurality of telescopic or eXtensible sections having suitable calibrations, which sections are adapted to close up together to form a short instrument which can be readily carried in the pocket.

Again, my invention includes caliper devices carried by and coperating with the main section of the instrument, which devices can be quickly and easily adjusted to any desired position.

l/Vith other Objects in view, which will be hereinafter fully apparent, the invention includes certain novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first described in detail and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of my invention closed up. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the form shown in Fig. 1 opened. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the Inanner of adjusting the closable sections. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the Inovable carriage member of the caliper attachment. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the fixed Carriage member of the caliper attachment. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the caliper-leg for the movable carriage member. Fig. 9 is a similar view of the caliper-leg for the fixed carriage member. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention, showing the same with the sections in their partly-extended position. Fig. 11 is a side elevation thereof, showing the manner of using the same as a caliper. Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the form shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of another form of my invention. Fig. 14 is a cross-section of the form shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a vertical longitudinal section of the form shown in Fig. 13, taken on the line l5 15 of Fig. 14. Fig. 16 is a cross-section similar to that shown in Fig. 14, but showing a slightlymodified Inanner of connecting the sections of the form shown in Fig. 13 together. Fig. 17 is a side elevation of a further modification of my invention. Fig. 1S is a cross-section on the'line 18 18 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a detail view of the locking means for the sections Of the form shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate like parts in all the ligures, 1 designates the main body or section, which is of tubular form throughout and preferably rectangular in cross-section. The section 1 is closed at one end at 1 and has its upper face 1b provided with guides 1c 1C so arranged with respect to one another as to leave a dovetailed groove between them t0 receive the dovetailed extension 2a of the sliding caliper-carriage 2. The carriage 2 is provided with sioe portions 2b 2b, which ride on the upper face 1b of the body 1, one on each side of the guides 1C 1C, as shown in Fig. 1.

2C designates a dovetailed groove in the upper face of the carriage 2, which groove 2'3 is arranged across the carriage and at right angles to the body 1. Removably held in the groove 2C by a dovetailed base 4a is a caliper-leg 4, which projects beyond the carriage 2 in the longitudinal direction of the section 1 a predetermined distance.

3 designates the fixed caliper-carriage, which is iiXedly held at the closed end of the section 1 on its top face 1b, and the carriage 3 has a dovetailed bore 3a in alinement with the dovetalled groove 1g between the guid es 1c 1c to receive the projected end 2X of the extension 2a of the carriage 2 when the carriage 2 is closed up against the carriage 3. The carriage 3 has a transverse dovetailed groove 3lo in its upper face of similar construction to the groove 2C of the carriage 2, and the groove 3b of the carriage 3 is adapted to receive the dovetailed base 5'0L of the second caliper-leg 5, which is removably mountbrated into suitable divisions and subdivisions-such, for instance, as inches and fractions thereo'fbeginning with the number 1 and ending with the number 11, tl1e inarkNo. 1 being disposed two-thirds ot an inch trom the end. oi the section 1. tor a purpose presently understood. On its opposite 'lace 1e the section 1 is likewise calibrated, except that the mark zero l("0) begins one-third (2,-) of an inch from the end, as shown in Fig. 7, and in alinement with the inner eige oi the 'iixed carriage.

r1`elescopically arranged within the section 1. is a second section 6 ot like shape in crosssection as the section 1., and the section 6 formed with al bead 6'b1 surrounding its i'rec end and has its tace 6b calibrated to correspond with the 'tace 1d ot the section 1. The numbers of division, however, on the section. 6 read from right to left, beginning with the number 12 and continuingl to the number 20, while the divisions on the tace 1d oi the section 1 read 1 to 11 i'rom lett to right.

(3C designates a spring-catch carried by the inner end of the section 6 to lock with a .notch 1y, Fig. e, in the wall of the section 1. when the section 6 is fully extended.

Arranged telescopically within the section 6 is a third section 7 ot like construction, whose tace 7a is calibrated similarljT to the Vfaces 1d 6b ot' the sections 1 and G, respectively, but whose indicating-numbers read from right to left, beginning at 21 and ending with 30. '.he section 7 is provided with a spring-catch 7b, Fig. 19, to interlock with the notch @Y in the section 6 when the section 7 is fully extended. The section 7 has a bead 7 C surrounding its 'free end, similarly to the bead 6 ot the section G.

8 .designates a fourth section telescopically arranged within the section 7 and ot similar construction thereto. The tace Sa ot the section 8 is calibrated similarly to the i'aces 7a, 6b, and 1l ot the sections 7 6 1, respectively, the calibrations ot the section 8 run.- ning rom right to lett and. reading 31 to 39.

So tar as described the operation. ot my invention will be best explained as follows: It it is desired to use my invention as a caliper to measure the inside distance between two points A B, as shown in Fig. 2, the operatm' adjusts the carriage 2 towardL or 'from the carriage 3, both carriages bein g hel 1l between the points A B. The operator after the adjustment has been made then notes the reading on the scale on face 1d between the outer (left-hand) edge of the section 1 andv the outer (right-hand) edge oi leg 4: on carriage 2, which, say, is two and. one-quarter 'tace 12X to correspond with the calibrations inches. This indicates that the distance between the two points A B is two and onequarter inches. Supposing, however, that the operator desires to iind. the width of a given piece of material C, (see Fig. 1,) he then places the material between the car- New, supposingthat it is desired to have a i rule or measure iiiteen inches long, the operator then pulls out section 6 until the 15 mark coincides with the "11 mark, as shown in Fig. 3, when the distance between the ends ot the device will be fteen inches. To obtain an instrument, say, twenty inches long, section (j is pulled out until the M20 inch mark corresponds with the "1.1.inch mark, when the device will be twenty inches long. Should it be desired to obtain a device twenty-eight inches long, section (5 is pulled out to its limit and section 7 pulled out until the 2S-inch. mark coincides wit h the collar-ed edge ol the section G. This makes the instrument twenty-eight inches long. Any intermediate lengths between the 'l'ull length oi" the instrument (thirty-nine inches) can be obtained by adjusting the various sections to their wide-open or fully-extended. position.

1n Figs. 10, 11, and 12 1 have shown a slightly-modiiied lorm ot my invention, in which the instrument composed oit the central or main body portion 1t), formed with the grooves 10'LL 10l in its upper and lower edge liaces to form, as it were, 'l' portions. At each end and opposite to each other the body portion 1.0 is provided with bent-over clips 10h 10 to embrace the extension members 11. and 12, as shown, and each extension member 1.1 and 12 has a pair ot clips 11iL and 12, which bend over the T portion ol.i the main section 10 and into the grooves 1.0L 1.0, as shown. At the 'tree endv each section 11 and 12 is provided with a right-angled portion 11b 12'), which when the parts are tolded together .terms an end closure or alnltment lor the instrument. The outer laces 1 1 x, 12", and 10X otl the portions 11, 12, and 10, respectively, are calibrated into suitable divisionssay inclV and. fractions thereol`-the section 11 being provided with il" ni1inch :allnfations reading l'rom lel't to right, while section .1() is provided with calil'nations reading .lroln right to lel't and begin with 5 and end with 8, so that when section 12 is lolded up by extending section 11 until the division-mark H 6 on the section 1() registers with the edge of the section 11 adjacent the No 4 the instrument will be six inches longl from end to end. Section 12 is calibrated. on its inner on the faces 11X and 1()x olf the sections 1() and 11, respectively, and the calibrations on the section 12 numbered tl to 12,7 reading from right to lelt, so that when sections 10 and .11. have been extended to their fullest lOO eliges@ length by pulling out section 12 until the division mark 11 appears the instrument will then be eleven inches in length, and by pulling out section 1.2 until the mark 12 appears the instrument will be twelve inches in length. The opposite face 1.1y of the section 1l is also calibrated in inche and fractions thereof, and the sections 11 and 1() when used together may be made to serve as a caliper, as follows: Supposing it is desired to measure the width of a given piece of niaterial, the said material is placed between the right-angled portion 1.1b of the section 11 and the end of the section 10, which sections are then drawn together as far as the inaterial interposed will permit. rihe instrument is then removed from the material and. the scale .reading on the face 1.1Y is taken, which will give the width of the material in inches and fractions thereof.

in Fig. 13 I have shown another modification of my invention, by reference to which it will' be seen that the instrument is coniposed of a plurality of sections 1.3, 111-, 1.5, and 16, the sections 1.3 and 16 of which have right-angled portions 13'nl and 1,6, similar to those of the form shown in Fig. 10. Each section 13, 14, 15, and 16 comprises body portion rectangular' in cross-section and pre. rably constructed. of wood. To this body portion are secured. a pair of metal guides 13, 14h 15D 16h, respectively, forming between them a dovetailed groove to receive the dovetailed portion 14C, 15C, and 160, respectively, of the connecting-sections, and these dovetailed portions are also preferably constructed of metal. The section 13 is calibrated on its face to read from one to six divisions from left to right, the section .1 -.t is calibrated to read. from seven to tv ilve divisions from right to left, the section 15 is calibrated to read from thirteen to eighteen divisions from right to left, while the section 16 is calibrated to read from nineteen to twenty-four inches from right to left, the various adjustments of the instrument being made to attain the different lengths in a manner similar to that used for the other forms of my invention hereinbefore described..

Fig. 16 discloses a cross-section showing a slightly-modified manner of attaching the sections 13, 14, 15, and 16 together, and in this form the top slide portion. is provided with an eye-shaped member 17 on its under surface, while the bottom slide is provided with a groove 17a, in which a pair of parallel plates 17b is secured to form a "t-slot 17C to receive the eye member of the top slide, the intermediate slide being formed both with the groove and parallel plates and with the eye member, as shown, to properly cooperate with the top and bottom slides.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

it is thought the complete construction, operation, and many advantages of my invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and it is thought that from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be readily seen that I have provided a very simple and effective instrument for measuring linear distances and which may be used eitherl as an ordinary rule-measure or as a caliper, as occasion may require.

Having thus described my invention, what i claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-A 1. An instrument of the character stated, comprising outer and inner flat sections endwise extensible and slidablc on each other, thc outer sections having right-angled portions at their frcc ends and interlocking ears at their other ends for interlocking with the intermediate section, said intermediate section having ears for engaging the outer sections, all of said sections having corresponding faces graduated and one of said outer sections having its opposite face graduated substantially as shown and described.

2. A rule comprising a central body portion having grooves in its upper and lower edge. faces, bent-over clips at each end of said central portion on opposite sides thereof, a pair of sheet-metal extension members slidablc against said central member through the clips thereof and provided at the centralmember-engaging end with bent-over clips to enter the grooves of the central member and provided at their other ends with rightangled portions, substantially as shown and described.

3. A rule comprising a central body portion having grooves in its upper and lower edge faces, bent-over clips at cach end of said central portion on opposite sides thereof, a pair of sheet-metal extension members slidable against said central member through the clips thereof and provided at the centralmember-engaging end with bent-over clips to enter the grooves of the central member and provided at their other ends with rightangled portions, all of said members being provided with graduations, the calibrations of one extension member being 'four in number and reading from left to right to indicate inches, tne calibrations of the central member being in inches reading from right to left to indicate live to eight, the other extension member having its calibrations divided into inches reading from nine to twelve, from right to left, substantially as shown and described HENRY URSON PRINDLE.

Witnesses A. J. MORSMAYER. RAY BAR'rHURs'r.

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